Kelsey Mitchell’s exit interview has left a big question mark over where her home will be next WNBA season. The 5-foot-8 guard opened up about being “selfish” in her approach to upcoming free agency while also discussing the “flak” players have to deal with when they play alongside Caitlin Clark. And while replacing a player like Mitchell would be no easy task, former college basketball player Rachel A. DeMita does not believe the Fever would be “doomed” if she were to leave.
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“I don’t agree with the takes that the Indiana Fever just completely dissolves if Kelsey (Mitchell) isn’t there,” DeMita said during her October 6 podcast episode. “I don’t think that’s fair at all; I think Kelsey has been great, but we’ve also seen what the team was like when Kelsey was there, and Caitlin (Clark) wasn’t there. That team wasn’t making the playoffs. And that’s not to downplay what Kelsey has done because she has been great. But I don’t think we should be saying that the Fever are doomed if she’s not there.”
But DeMita’s bigger concern is not whether Mitchell stays. It is whether Indiana can finally figure out how to maximize its three biggest pieces if she does.
“If she is there, there’s a system to figure out. But there’s no excuse. If you get back this big three, Aliyah, Kelsey, and Caitlin, there really is no excuse to not figure it out this time. And if you can’t figure it out – this is to the front office – then you’re wasting these women’s prime years because there is no reason,” she added. “And if you can’t figure it out, blow up the team. Get rid of people. Trade Caitlin if you can’t figure it out. Get rid of Kelsey if you can’t figure it out. Trade Aliyah if you can’t figure it out. Don’t waste their time.”
There is very little doubt that bringing Kelsey Mitchell back will be one of the Fever’s biggest priorities this offseason. Her recent comments may have made fans a little uncomfortable, but they are not entirely unfamiliar. Mitchell has made similar remarks about her future before eventually returning to Indiana, meaning the possibility of seeing the three-headed monster back together in 2027 remains very much on the table. So the bigger question is what the Fever do with it if they get their trio back.
Clark, Mitchell and Boston have the ingredients of a perfectly balanced offense. Clark’s deep shooting and playmaking force defenses to stretch beyond their comfort zone, creating openings for Mitchell to attack and score from all three levels. And Boston then gives Indiana an inside presence, whether as a post scorer, screener, or pick-and-roll option, making it far more difficult for defenses to load up on the two guards. The problem is that having the pieces and knowing how to use them are two very different things.
Even with that trio, Indiana exited the playoffs in the first round. There were flashes of what the Fever could become, particularly during their 12-4 run across July and August. But getting there was hardly a smooth ride. And then after the September FIBA break, the lack of a consistent system became noticeable again as Indiana went 2-2 to close the regular season.
That is why retaining Kelsey Mitchell alone cannot be the Fever’s offseason solution. If the trio returns, Indiana has to find a way to make their strengths complement one another instead of simply putting three talented players on the floor together.
If Mitchell does leave, however, her departure could give the Fever another way to address one of their biggest weaknesses. Mitchell was Indiana’s highest-paid player in 2026 at $1.4 million, giving the organization significant flexibility to reshape the roster around Clark and Boston.
The organization could use that money to pursue another scorer, with Kelsey Plum among the free agents who could provide that offensive punch. But adding a versatile, top-tier defender may ultimately do more for Indiana. With Clark providing the offensive engine and Boston anchoring the frontcourt, giving them another elite defensive presence could address the weakness that has repeatedly prevented the Fever from becoming a complete team.
So whether Kelsey Mitchell stays or goes, the message from DeMita remains the same: Indiana cannot afford another season of figuring things out. The pieces are already there. The Fever now have to build a system that finally makes them work together.